Checchi Gets Hit Hard Right From Kickoff KENNETH L. KHACHIGIAN, Kenneth L. Khachigian is a veteran political strategist and former White House speech writer who practices law in Orange County. His column appears here every other week

Interaction Key to Battling Biases SHOSHANA BROWER, Shoshana Brower of Westlake Village is a trainer and consultant in cross-cultural/international, sexual harassment prevention, team-building, diversity and customer service

Ethnic Ties Help Determine Choice of Job JAMES P. ALLEN, James P. Allen is a professor of geography at Cal State Northridge and coauthor of "The Ethnic Quilt: Population Diversity in Southern California."

MAGAZINE

Ascent into Africa WILLIE WEIR, Weir is the author of "Spokesongs: Bicycle Adventures on Three Continents" (Pineleaf Productions), about his travels in India, South Africa and the Balkans. He has pedaled more than 35,000 miles worldwide